When it’s LA vs. Detroit in the NBA finals… (after San Antonio and Boston go down for the count)

It’s a matter of time, in my opinion, before the Lakers and Pistons square off in the NBA Finals, which will start either Tuesday June 3 or Thursday June 5.

I could be totally wrong, but I’m thinking Lakers over San Antonio in 5 and Pistons over Boston in 6 games (quick reasoning for this lower in the item).

When that happens…

* Detroit will have home-court advantage over LA and will host Games 1 and 2 and possibly 6 and 7, if the last two are necessary.

The Pistons won 59 regular-season games to the Lakers’ 57.

(Boston won 66 so obviously would hold home-court advantage until it loses.)

* There will be a lot of talk about the 2004 Detroit-LA finals, when the Pistons clamped down Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal and won the series 4-1.

Four of the five Detroit starters are the same from that team–Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace. The only changed starter is Antonio McDyess (Ben Wallace was the 2004 starter at center).

Detroit is better than Boston (series is currently tied 2-2) because Rip Hamilton is better than Ray Allen and the Detroit offense makes sure to show case that and because Boston needs huge production out of Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo to win games and that’s not going to happen consistently.

The Lakers will beat the Spurs because they’re up 2-1 (pending tonight’s Game 4) and Kobe Bryant hasn’t had a spectacular game yet and because San Antonio needs 100% concentration out of Bruce Bowen and a spectacular performance out of Manu Ginobili to win, and that’s almost impossible against the Lakers and Kobe.

All wrong Tim! You obviously ignore the conspiracy theory (LOL!). It’ll be the Lakers vs. Celtics baby – just like old golden days of Bird, Magic, Russell, and West!

Conspiracy meaning Garnett handed to the Celtics by a former Celtic to a former Celtic. And you know Jerry West had to have some influence on Gasol handed to the Lakers by a former Laker! LOL! So what if Jerry West had left the Memphis Grizzly organization – the story goes better this way! Go W’s!